Ashtray

ABSTRACT

The ashtray comprises a housing and a U-shaped insert inserted into the housing. An upper portion of one side of the insert is inclined downwardly and an upper portion of the opposite side is bent first inwardly and then upwardly to form a fulcrum edge. A balance-like cover member is loosely supported on the fulcrum edge and one arm thereof is operable to abut from below against the edge of the downwardly sloping side portion whereas the other arm is provided with a weight urging the one arm into a gap closing position. The one arm is preferably provided with a Ushaped attachment forming together with the sloping side a cigarette butt extinguishing chamber.

llnited States Patent 1 Busse 1 Mar. 18, 1975 ASHTRAY [76] Inventor: Rido Busse, Napoleonweg 6-8, 791 1 Oberelchingen, Germany [22] Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 325,643

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 31, 1972 Germany 2204319 Sept. 27, 1972 Germany 2247223 [52] US. Cl 131/235 R, l3l/237, l3l/242, 220/205 [51] Int. Cl. A24f 19/14 [58] Field of Search 131/231, 235 R, 242, 256; 220/4 GC, 220.5

2,587,988 3/1952 Fredrickson 220/205 3,416,538 12/1968 Croswhite 131/237 3,456,832 7/1969 Vevirit et a] 131/242 X 3,508,703 4/1970 Wyant 220/205 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 72,767 11/1959 France 131/242 Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Attorney, Agent, or FirmErnest F. Marmorek [57] ABSTRACT The ashtray comprises a housing and a U-shaped insert inserted into the housing. An upper portion of one side of the insert is inclined downwardly and an upper portion of the opposite side is bent first inwardly and then upwardly to form a fulcrum edge. A balancelike cover member is loosely supported on the fulcrum edge and one arm thereof is operable to abut from below against the edge of the downwardly sloping side portion whereas the other arm is provided with a weight urging the one arm into a gap closing position.

The one arm is preferably provided with a U-shaped attachment forming together with the sloping side a cigarette butt extinguishing chamber.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIEUHARI 8191s 3.87 1 ,387

' v SHEET u q 4 Fig.8

mmmmm u! I! I i I it ASHTRAY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an ashtray and, more particularly to an ashtray which is capable of extinguishing cigarette butts and ashes. The ashtray includes an inlet opening or gap which is defined by two facing closing members directed towards each other and a tiltable cover loosely supported on a closing member for closing and, respectively, opening the gap.

The conventional ashtray of this type has the advantage that the space for collecting cigarette butts and ashes is normally closed but on the other hand it has the disadvantage that due to the relatively large dimensions of the ashes collecting space there still remains an amount of oxygen which causes the cigarette butt to continue glowing even if the space is closed. Due to such imperfect combustion, however, vapors are developed which contain an increased amount of nicotine and tar which precipitates on the inner walls of the container and form thereon an adherent layer or deposit. Apart from the fact that such sediments and vapors produce intensive unpleasant odors they adhere to the inside surface so strongly that they are difficult to be removed. I

The precipitated or deposited layer of tar and other nicotine containing components are especially troublesome in the case of ashtrays where a movable cover is supported for pivoting about a stationary axle since the vapors tend to precipitate especially in the area of the axle bearing and impede the pivoting movement of the cover.

In addition, a stationarily mounted cover requires a rather complicated design and is difficult to be cleaned.

It is therefore the principle object of this invention to avoid the disadvantages of prior art ashtrays of this type.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide an ashtray having a movable cover which prevents the tar containing vapors from precipitation and in addition which can be easily cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above objects of this invention are attained by providing a support for a movable cover which is formed as a contact surface upon which the cover is removably and slidably supported so that the both bearing parts, upon the removal of the cover, are easily accessible and can be cleaned without any difficulties. The tiltable cover as well as the contact surface can be therefore cle ed even in a rinsing machineand the entire ashtray'upon cleaning can be assembled in a simple manner.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the ashtray is characterized by an insert which has a sidewall defining an upwardly directed contact-or fulcrum edge, and an opposite sidewall the upper portion of which slopes downwardly and has a downwardly directed abutment edge. The cover member is in the form of a lever having two balanced sections and is freely supported on the fulcrum edge for a tilting movement about this fulcrum edge and for a sliding movement in an inclined path defined by the fulcrum edge and the abutment edge during movement of the cover to its insert closing position. The other section of the lever-like cover acts as a counterbalance weight which 2 urges the first section into the closing position to abut from below the abutment edge.

The two facing upper portions of the insert, the leverlike cover and its contact bearing can be designed so as to define an inlet opening which forms only a portion of the cross-section of the insert. It is advantageous, however, that the above mentioned components be extended over the entire length of the insert.

The insert can be also designed in the form of a housing of the ashtray; in this event, however, even if the movable cover is easily demountable and consequently the contact bearing easily accessible during cleaning, the disadvantage still remains that the interior of the housing is difficult to be cleaned especially in the corners where the tar deposits can be removed only with great difficulties.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, therefore, the ashtray is assembled of three separate parts, namely of a quadrangular housing having open top; a

tiltable cover; and a substantially U-shaped insert insertable into the housing and having one side bent at first inwardly and then upwardly to form together with the inner wall of the housing a recess and to define an upwardly directed edge which represents the fulcrum edge for the supporting of the tiltable cover. The opposite side of the U-shaped insert is bent downwardly inwardly to define with the opposite upwardly bent portion a gap through which the cigarette butts and ashes are introduced into the insert.

If the cover is intended merely for being tilted away from the abutment edge of the inclined opposite side when the insert is to be opened, it is sufficient merely to press down the covering section of the coverand the other section which is provided with a weight sufficient for urging the covering section back into its closing position, is moved up.

In a further development of this invention, the cover section is adapted for a guiding movement on an incline defined by the fulcrum edge and the abutment edge; for this purpose, the counterbalance weight of theother section of the cover lever projects into the recess between the shaped or profiled upper portion of the insert and the inner wall of the housing, and is disposed at a distance from the inner wall of the housing; the end portion of the covering section of the lever-like cover which extends past the abutment edgel is extended be yond this edge for the same distance. The cover member can be provided with an upwardly directed manipulating projection which is hand operated for executing the aforementioned inclined sliding movement. This sliding movement is terminated when the weight on the other section abuts against the inner wall of the housing. When the manipulating projection is released, the counterbalancing weight slidably returns on the same incline the cover into its starting closed position.

The sliding movement is useful for performing a cigarette butt extinguishing function, as it will be explained below.

This extinguishing function can be attained by providing the covering section of the lever-like cover with a U-shaped additional piece which in the closed position of the cover forms with the downwardly sloping side of the receptacle a cigarette extinguishing channel -or chamber. This U-shaped additional piece extends perferably along the entire length of the end of the covering section and has a shoulder which extends beyond the abutment edge of the sloping side.

It is still possible, however, to modify such an elongated extinguishing chamber by dividing it into a plurality of compartments arranged one after the other, each compartment being provided on top with a notch through which the tip of a cigarette butt can be inserted into each individual extinguishing compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention, both as to an example of its preferred embodiment and the operation thereof, together with further advantages, features an object which may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the ashtray of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ashtray of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view of the ashtray of FIG. 1 in its normal position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to that of FIG. 3 and showing the ashtray in its closed position but having cigarette extinguishing chamber in its open portion;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the ashtray of FIG. 4 showing the ashtray in its cigarette extinguishing position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation view of the ashtray of FIG. 5 showing the ashtray in its open position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevation view of a modification of the ashtray of this invention; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the cover in the ashtray according to FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the figures, the ashtray of this invention comprises a quadrangular housing 1 closed at five sides thereof and being open at its top. The housing 1 is preferably provided with supporting lugs 10 and is made preferably of a synthetic chemical material.

Within the housing 1 is removably inserted an insert 2 having a substantially U-shaped cross-section defining a bottom and two facing sidewalls 21 and 22. The outer dimension of the insert 2 is slightly smaller than the clearance of the housing 1 so that the insert can be easily inserted in and removed from the housing 1. Near the upper portions of the sidewalls 21 and 22, however, are provided relatively narrow projecting portions 210 and 220 abutting against the inner walls of the housing 1 so as to insure proper contact and prevent the insert 2 from getting loose.

The upper portion of the sidewall 21 is bent at first inwardly substantially at a right angle and, at a distance from the wall of the housing 1, it is developed to slope upwardly and finally its terminal part is turned upright, in parallel with the wall of the housing 1. At the end of the upright, in parallel with the wall of the rim level of the housing 1, this end is employed as a fulcrum edge 250 for supporting the center part of the balance-like cover 3. In the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the drawings, the fulcrum edge 250 does not have the form of a flat surface but it has a bulged configuration so that the matching inwardly bulged bearing near the center of the balance-like cover 3 can be easily placed upon so that the entire cover can be flawlessly tilted and if desired removed from the fulcrum edge 250.

The inwardly upwardly bent upper portions 23, 24 and 25 of the sidewall 21 forms a partial closure of the open top of the insert 2 in the housing 1. The opposite sidewall 22 of the insert 2 has its upper portion 26 bent inwardly downwardly at an accute angle. In this embodiment, the downwardly sloping upper portion 26 is terminated with an additional piece 260 which is slightly recessed with respect to the upper surface of the sloping upper portion 26 to form a sealing edge 265 and which terminates with a downwardly directed abutment edge 266. The inwardly directed upper portion 26, 260 forms another closure portion of the insert 2 in the housing 1 and defines with the opposite upper portion 23 to 25 a gap through which the cigarette butts and ashes are introduced into the insert 2. The downwardly directed abutment edge 266 of the additional piece 260 cooperates with the covering section of the balance-like cover 3 as it will be explained later. The sidewall 22 of the insert 2 in the region of the bent near the rim of the housing 1 is provided with an outwardly directed flange 28 which abuts on the rim surface portion 11 of the housing 1.

As described above, the cover 3 is made in the form of a balance having two sections 30 and 31. The covering section 31 stretches over the entire area of the gap 27 between the sealing edge 265 and the fulcrum edge 250. the cover at its center is further provided with a recessed bearing 32 which matches the bulging shape of the fulcrum edge 250 and is freely seated upon the edge 250. As a consequence, the cover section 31 can be easily tilted up and, respectively, down in the area of the gap 27 and if desired it can be slidably displaced in the direction of the arrow 5 as shown in FIG. 4. During this slidable movement, the fulcrum edge 250 and the downwardly directed abutment edge 266 serve as guiding edges defining the incline of the sliding motion. In addition, due to the free support of the balance-like cover 3 on the bulging fulcrum edge 250, the entire cover can be easily placed upon and removed from the fulcrum edge on the insert; as a result the entire ashtray can be readily taken apart for the purpose of cleaning for example. I

The tip of the covering section 31 abuts against the sealing edge or end of the sloping upper portion 26, and its lower surface is connected with a channel 33 having a U-shaped cross-section and facing at its open side the surface of the additional sloping piece 260 attached to the sloping portion 26. As a result, when the cover section 31 is in its gap closing position, the channel 33 forms together with the additional piece 260 an elongated extinguishing chamber 34; the lower shoulder 330 of the U-shaped channel 33 is extended beyond the abutment edge 265 of the piece 260 to serve as a guiding surface when the cover section 31 is slidably moved in the direction of the arrow 5 (FIG. 4). In this event, the tip edge of the cover section 31 opens the chamber 34 at a distance sufficient to receive a cigarette butt 4 for extinguishing. According to one feature of this invention, the extinguishing chamber 34 has dimensions corresponding substantially to the cross-section of a cigarette so thatTHEEXtingHishing ofa burningbutt can be effectively made and the undesired glowing or burning of the butt within the extingusihing chamber 34 is reduced to a minimum.

The other section of the balance-like cover 3 is provided with a weight 30 which urges the covering section 31 into contact with the edge of the recess 260.

As seen in FIG. 3, the counterbalancing weight 30 is located in the recess resulting between the inwardly bent upper portion 23 to 25 and the upper portion of the wall of the housing 1 and is provided with an extension 35 abutting against the rim surface 11 when the cover is in its gap closing position.

The counterbalancing weight 30 is spaced apart from the inner wall of the housing 1 for a distance corresponding to the opening of the extinguishing chamber so that its surface 37 facing the inner wall of the housing acts as a limit stop when the cover is slidably moved on an incline into its elevated position when the extinguishing chamber 34 is open (FIG. 4).

The ashes from a cigarette are knocked off into the trough resulting between the inclined surfaces 31 of the cover 3 and the stationary inclined surface of the upper portion 26 of the insert 2. When the cover 3 is in its rest or gap closing postion, the ashes stay in this trough. Similarly, upon completing the smoking of a cigarette, the cigarette butt is disposed into the trough and is placed parallel to the bottom edge thereof. Subsequently, the cover 3 is manipulated. by pressing the upwardly directed projection 36 and is thereby shifted on an incline in the direction of arrow 5 until the limit stop surface 37 of the weight 30 abuts against the inner wall of the housing (FIG. 4); the extended lower surface of the channel 33 keeps contact with the lowermost or abutment edge of the additional sloping surface 260 and as the length of this extended arm corresponds substantially to the distance between the weight 30 and the facing inner wall of the housing 1, there is no need for an additional stop on the channel 33 or the piece 260.

In the elevated position of the balance-like cover 3 as shown in FIG. 4, the extinguishing chamber 34 is open and the ashes as well as the cigarette butts fall on the additional trough formed by the extended arm of the channel 33 and the additional sloping surface 260. As the next step, the projection 36 is released and the weight 30 urges the cover section 31 back to its gap closing position as illustrated in FIG. 5. At this stage, however, the cigarette butt 4 together with cigarette ashes can be compressed in the small space of the tightly closed extinguishing chamber 34 defined by the inner wall of the U-shaped channel 33 and the upper surface of the additional sloping 260. In this position, the cigarette butt is kept for several seconds until its burning due to the absence of oxygen is completely extinguished. The extinguished cigarette butt can now be disposed into the interior space 14 of the receptacle 2. This disposal is affected by pressing the manipulating projection 36 in the direction of arrow 50 (FIG. 5) and the blanace-like cover 3 is tilted downwardly as shown in FIG. 6. When the manipulating projection 36 is released, the weight 30 returns again the covering section into the original gap closing position.

FIGS. 7 and 8 refer to a modification of the ashtray according to this invention wherein the cigarette butts instead of being inserted into the upper trough between portions 311 and 261 parallel to the bottom edge thereof, are inserted substantially at a right angle to the sloping cover section 371. For this purpose, the end area of the cover section 37 is provided with notches 370 which extend above the extinguishing chamber defined thereby. Respective notches 370 can be sepa-' rated from each other by partitions 375 so that the notches 370 and the portion 261 form a series of extinguishing chambers into which the tips of cigarette butts are inserted. The end 376 of the shoulder of the section 371 abuts from below against the abutment edge 262 of the inclined surface 261 when the cover 3 is in its gap closing position. As soon as the cigarette tip in the compartment 371 is extiguished, projection 36 is pressed downwardly, the cigarette butt is displaced from the notch 370 by the effect of the edge of the sloping surface 261 and falls down into the receiving space 14 in the insert 2.

The ashtray according to this invention has the additional advantage that the extinguishing chamber can be manufactured and processed in a very simple manner. All parts of the ashtray are also easy to be worked, for instance the U-shaped receptacle 2 and the balancelike cover 3 can be manufactured in an extruder and all parts can be immediately assembled and matched so as to perform the aforementioned functions.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. An ashtray for receiving and extinguishing cigarette butts and ashes,

comprising in combination:

a housing,

an insert having upper parts defining a gap therebetween,

said insert being removably inserted in said housing,

fulcrum means connected to said insert and forming a fulcrum,

one of saidupper parts spaced apart from said fulcrum sloping downwardly and having a downwardly directed abutment portion;

a movable cover for said insert having two sections and being tiltably and removably supported on said fulcrum,

one section of said cover being tiltable in said gap about said fulcrum between a gap closing position in which it abuts from below against said abutment portion thereby closing said gap, and, respectively, a gap opening position away from said abutment portion, and

the other section of said cover including a counterbalancing weight sufficient for urging said one section into said gap closing position,

said one section defining with said abutment portion in said gap closing position an extinguishing chamber sufficiently air tight to extinguish a burning cigarette when disposed in said chamber.

2. An ashtray according to claim 1 wherein said one upper portion and said cover extend over insert so as to close the gap in the gap closing position thereof.

3. An ashtray according to claim 1, wherein said extinquishing chamber has a length of about 4 inches and a width substantially the same as the width of a cigarette.

4. An ashtray, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing is a quadrangular housing having an open top,

said insert being insertable into said housing from the top thereof, and

a portion of said cover being supported on an upper edge of said housing when said cover is in the gap oepning position.

5. An ashtray according to claim 4, wherein the upper portion of said insert is provided with projecting portions abutting against the inner walls of said housmg.

6. An ashtray for receiving and extinguishing cigarette butts and ashes,

comprising in combination a housing,

a insert having two opposite upper portions directed towards each other to define a gap therebetween, said insert being removably inserted in said housthe edge of one upper portion being directed upwardly to form a fulcrum edge,

the other upper portion sloping downwardly and having a downwardly directed abutment edge;

a movable cover for said insert having two sections and being tiltably supported on said fulcrum edge,

one section of said cover being tiltable in said gap about said fulcrum edge between a gap closing position in which it abuts from below against said abutment edge, and, respectively, a gap opening position away from said abutment edge, and the other section of said cover including a weight sufficient for urging said one section into said closing position, said one cover section having a channel part defined therein, said channel part having an opening facing said abutment edge and having a projecting shoulder abutting from below against said abutment edge to form an extinguishment chamber when said cover is in its gap closing positon. 7. An ashtray according to claim 6, further including a surface portion formed on the lower surface of said other upper portion of said insert, said surface portion having a width corresponding substantially to the clearance of said channel and being located opposite thereto. 

1. An ashtray for receiving and extinguishing cigarette butts and ashes, comprising in combination: a housing, an insert having upper parts defining a gap therebetween, said insert being removably inserted in said housing, fulcrum means connected to said insert and forming a fulcrum, one of said upper parts Spaced apart from said fulcrum sloping downwardly and having a downwardly directed abutment portion; a movable cover for said insert having two sections and being tiltably and removably supported on said fulcrum, one section of said cover being tiltable in said gap about said fulcrum between a gap closing position in which it abuts from below against said abutment portion thereby closing said gap, and, respectively, a gap opening position away from said abutment portion, and the other section of said cover including a counterbalancing weight sufficient for urging said one section into said gap closing position, said one section defining with said abutment portion in said gap closing position an extinguishing chamber sufficiently air tight to extinguish a burning cigarette when disposed in said chamber.
 2. An ashtray according to claim 1 wherein said one upper portion and said cover extend over insert so as to close the gap in the gap closing position thereof.
 3. An ashtray according to claim 1, wherein said extinquishing chamber has a length of about 4 inches and a width substantially the same as the width of a cigarette.
 4. An ashtray, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing is a quadrangular housing having an open top, said insert being insertable into said housing from the top thereof, and a portion of said cover being supported on an upper edge of said housing when said cover is in the gap oepning position.
 5. An ashtray according to claim 4, wherein the upper portion of said insert is provided with projecting portions abutting against the inner walls of said housing.
 6. An ashtray for receiving and extinguishing cigarette butts and ashes, comprising in combination a housing, a insert having two opposite upper portions directed towards each other to define a gap therebetween, said insert being removably inserted in said housing, the edge of one upper portion being directed upwardly to form a fulcrum edge, the other upper portion sloping downwardly and having a downwardly directed abutment edge; a movable cover for said insert having two sections and being tiltably supported on said fulcrum edge, one section of said cover being tiltable in said gap about said fulcrum edge between a gap closing position in which it abuts from below against said abutment edge, and, respectively, a gap opening position away from said abutment edge, and the other section of said cover including a weight sufficient for urging said one section into said closing position, said one cover section having a channel part defined therein, said channel part having an opening facing said abutment edge and having a projecting shoulder abutting from below against said abutment edge to form an extinguishment chamber when said cover is in its gap closing positon.
 7. An ashtray according to claim 6, further including a surface portion formed on the lower surface of said other upper portion of said insert, said surface portion having a width corresponding substantially to the clearance of said channel and being located opposite thereto. 